4 ways Packers can pull off upset over 49ers in divisional round

Jordan Love must have another MVP-level performance

The Packers are 7-2 over their past nine games. It's no coincidence that Jordan Love has 23 total touchdowns and only one interception in that stretch. He was almost perfect against the Cowboys, completing 76 percent of his passes for 272 yards and three touchdowns, earning a passer rating of 157.2.

Love needs another MVP-level performance to lead the Packers to victory. It's not all on him, of course. His offensive line must give him time. His receivers must make plays. The run game has to work.

The Packers need a flawless performance in all three phases to get past a dominant 49ers team, but more than anything, they need Love to deliver.

He has incredible calmness, poise, and command of the offense in only his first year as a starter. Last week was Love's first playoff start, but he proved the occasion wasn't too big for him. It was a quarterback masterclass. Love's ability to make smart decisions, find the open receivers, and, when required, make magic happen off-script is what makes him so hard to defend.

San Francisco's defense is talented, but it's not unbeatable. The 49ers rank 14th against the pass. If the offensive line gives Love time, there will be opportunities to find openings in the secondary.

If Love delivers another dominant performance, the Packers have an excellent chance of upsetting the 49ers.

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